Ukrainian drones struck Russia’s Volgograd oil refinery overnight, causing a fire at the Lukoil-operated facility, according to local media. This incident follows a pattern of Ukrainian strikes targeting Russian energy infrastructure, which Kyiv views as legitimate military targets funding Moscow’s war. Recent attacks include the use of Neptune missiles and HIMARS in Bryansk Oblast and the disabling of communication infrastructure in Belgorod Oblast by a pro-Ukrainian partisan group. Russia’s Defense Ministry reported shooting down numerous drones across several regions.
Read More
Senator Lisa Murkowski has become the first Republican to publicly oppose the SAVE Act, a proposed federal election bill strongly backed by President Donald Trump. Murkowski highlighted the hypocrisy of Republicans now supporting federal election mandates after vehemently opposing similar Democratic efforts in 2021, arguing that states should retain authority over election administration. She further cautioned that imposing new federal requirements so close to Election Day would disrupt state preparations and negatively impact election integrity, asserting that federal overreach is not the solution for building public trust.
Read More
The article details the review of Jeffrey Epstein’s Department of Justice files by three lawmakers, who reported revelations of a nine-year-old victim and the alleged involvement of a senior foreign government official in the sex trafficking network. The congressmen expressed concern over redacted names of individuals who are not victims, questioning the DOJ’s transparency and commitment to full disclosure. One lawmaker indicated an intent to potentially reveal redacted identities if the DOJ fails to rectify these omissions, while Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche urged honesty and criticized perceived grandstanding.
Read More
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has refused to review Moderna’s experimental flu shot, mRNA-1010, citing issues with the study design despite previous agency approval. Moderna stated the FDA did not identify any safety or efficacy concerns and plans to meet with the agency to discuss a path forward. This decision, which contrasts with prior feedback, occurs amidst broader shifts in U.S. vaccine regulation influenced by prominent vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the return of FDA vaccine regulator Vinay Prasad, who has advocated for tighter vaccine rules. Despite this setback, Moderna’s stock saw a slight dip, but the company expects approval for its flu shot by late 2026 or late 2027, pending international reviews.
Read More
The head of the European Payments Initiative (EPI) believes Europe is too reliant on international payment companies like Visa and Mastercard, which dominate Eurozone card transactions. This dependency raises concerns among EU officials, particularly as cash use declines, about the potential for these American companies’ power to be “weaponized.” To counter this, the EPI introduced Wero, a pan-European payment solution aiming to expand cross-border capabilities, while the European Central Bank is also exploring a digital euro as a means to enhance autonomy and security.
Read More
On December 22, 2024, as the sun set behind gas flares at the Dora Oil Refinery Complex, a significant shift occurred in U.S. environmental policy. The White House announced that the Environmental Protection Agency would formally revoke its 2009 endangerment finding. This critical scientific determination, which established that greenhouse gases pose a risk to public health and welfare, is the bedrock of federal climate regulations. The rescission, described as the largest deregulatory action in American history, is anticipated to eliminate regulations on emissions from the transportation sector and represents a major rollback of climate change mitigation efforts.
Read More
According to a declassified FBI interview, Donald Trump told a police chief in October 2019 that “everyone has known he’s been doing this,” referring to Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged crimes. This statement directly contradicts Trump’s public claims during his presidency that he had “no idea” about Epstein’s actions. The interview further details Trump’s characterization of Ghislaine Maxwell as Epstein’s “evil operative” and recounts Trump’s account of leaving a social gathering when teenagers were present and having previously banned Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club.
Read More
A 23-year-old British woman was fatally shot by her father at his Texas residence following a disagreement about Donald Trump. The incident occurred on January 10, 2025, the day before she was scheduled to return to the UK. While police confirmed she died from a gunshot wound to the heart, a grand jury declined to prosecute, and the father claims the shooting was accidental, despite the victim’s prior concerns about a firearm being present in the home.
Read More
Despite a recent stabilization in his overall approval rating, Donald Trump’s disapproval rating has reached a new peak, with over 46 percent of Americans strongly disapproving of his leadership according to the Silver Bulletin. While a few individual polls showed a slight improvement, this upward trend is offset by the growing intensity of opposition. This polarization underscores the significant political challenges facing the White House as the nation progresses further into the year.
Read More
Blake Garrett, best known for his role in the 2006 film “How to Eat Fried Worms,” has died at the age of 33. His mother stated that Garrett experienced intense pain and was diagnosed with shingles prior to his death. While awaiting autopsy results, his mother suspects his passing may have been a tragic accident. Garrett began his acting career at a young age and received a Young Artist Award for his work in “How to Eat Fried Worms.”
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker